Fastener for doors.



'S. P. STEVENSON.

, FASTENBR FOR DOORS.'

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1912.

1,099,626. Patented June 9, 1914.

2 SHEETBLSHBET 1.

EZGZ I S. P. STEVENSON.

PASTENBR FOR DOORS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY15, 1912.

1,099,626. r PatntedJune9,19l4.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Imam/tor I amud HWSEUaJI/MJZ different positions.

rim-TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL PRICE STEVENSON, OF CHESTER, PENNSYLVAJEgih-ft.

FASTENER FOR DOORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 9, 191 4 Application filcdJuly 15,1912. Serial No. voasss. p

To all who m. it-ma z/ concern Iie it known that I, SAMUEL Peron Srevnnson, of Chester, 1n the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have,

latch-releasing mechanism which is simple inconstruction and wherein the parts may be readily manipulated with llttle'or no binding action thereon.

A further object of the inventlon is toprovide a swinging door with a latch mechanismwhich includes releasing devices for the latch, whichmay be operated from either side of the door, and by a movement in the direction of the swing of the door.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration oneembodiment of the inven-- tion, Figured, is. a front view of a latchlope'r'ating mechanism having my improvements applied thereto. Fig. II, is a sectionaleview on the line II, II, of Fig. I.

Fig. III, is a sectional view on the line III, III, of Fig. I, and Figs. IV, and V, are sectional views showing the operating lever and the operating rod for the lever partly in elevation and partly in section, and in My improved fastener comprises-a supporting plate 1, from which project lugs 2, 2. Mounted in the'lugsZ, 2, so as to rotate freely therein is a shaft 3. This shaft 3, is provided with a rigid arm l, at

one end thereof, which arm carries a latch roller 5;" This latch roller 5, isadapted' to engage a keeper 6. The front surface '7, of the keeper 6, is inclined away from the plane of movement of the axis of the latch supporting shaft 3, as the parts approach one another in the closing of the door. The

. keeper is also provided with an inner surface 8, which cooperates with the latch roller 5, in firmly locking the door in closed posi-' tion. This surface 8, is curved substantially about the axis of the shaft 3, as a center. The keeper 6', is carried by a supporting base plate 9, which is adjustably secured to the frame of the door by bolts 10. spring 11, is wound about the shaft 3, and

'15- secured at one end to a collar 12, carried A spiral i by the shaft 3, while the other end of the spring is secured to an arm 13, projecting from the supporting plate 1. This spring normally tends to rotate the shaft so as to swing the latchroller 5, toward the inclined surface 7, and to carry the latch down the inclined surface 8, after the latch. passes the nose of the keeper. For releasing purposes, the shaft 3, supporting the latch is swung in the opposite direction by a lever 14', which isrigidly secured to the shaft by apin 1?. To provide for operating the fastener from therear side of the door, this arm or lever is provided with a vertical slot 16, into which projects the end of rod or bar 17.

This rod extends through the door, and is mounted in suitable bearing plates. The

opposite end of the rod is provided with a knob 18, by which the rod may be moved longitudinally in the door. arm 141, is formed with curved slots 19, which are located in the side walls of the central slot 16.

Said lever or The rod 17, carries across pin 20, on

which are mounted rollers 21, which engage the curved slots formed in the sidewalls of the arm or lever- 1 1. These slots are curved, so that the line .of pressure dueto.

the longitudinal movement of the rod is substantially at right angles to a tangent rollers carried by the rodwith the curve.

In other words the contacting surface of the slot is substantially at right anglesto the plane of tiravelof the rollers. Inother words, when the parts 'are in the position shown in Fig. III, an endwise movement of" tbe rod to release the latch will exert a force against the arm 14, which is substantially at right angles to the curve of the. slt at the point of contact between the roller and the slot. When the parts are moved to, the position shown in Fig. IV, it will be noted that this slot is so -curved that the pressure is at this point substantially at right angles to a line tangential to the curve at the point of contact of the roller with the curve. The

same is true when'thc parts are moved to the r' .to the curve at the point of contactiof the ine position shown in Fig. V. By thisconstruction of the slot, I am able to manipulate the arm or lever connected to the latch by a rod which moves in a straight line without any resulting j-lateral or binding strains on the rod which would occur if said slot were straight andsin a direction longitudinal of the arm, V a I The operation of my device is thought to be obvious from the above description. The latch may be released by an outward pull -on the arm or lever 14:, and the spring will throw the latch to closing position. The latch may also be released by a push on. the knob 18, which will move the rod longitudinally in its supporting bearings without any binding therein, and will swing the latchoperating lever or arm about its axis, turning the shaft 3, so as to release the latch.

From the above description, it will be apparent that I have provided a latch mechanism wherein the latch may be released by a pull on the lever 14, and this pull is in the direction required for opening the door. Likewise, when the door is opened from the opposite side, the latch is released by a push on the knob 18, and rod 17 which is also in the direction of movement of the door as said door swings to open position. It will also be obvious from the above description, that I have provided a latch releasing mechanism, wherein the operating parts are not only moved for releasing the latch by a force applied in the direction for opening the door, but also this force is applied at a point exceptionally close to the free edge of the door.

While I have shown my latch releasing devices as applied toone form of latch, it will be obvious that these releasing members operating as above noted, may be utilized in through the door, and connected to said lever, and devices for connecting the lever to the latch, whereby the movement of the lever in the direction for opening the door, will releasethe latch.

2. -Ina fastener for doors, the combination of a latch for holding the door closed, a spring for normally throwing the latch to locking position, and means for releasing said latch, including a'swinging lever on one side of said door, apush rod extending through the door, means for connecting the push rod to the lever, and devices for connecting the lever to the-latch, whereby the movement of the leverirr'the direction. for

opening the door, will release the latcli 3. .In a fastener for doors, the'combination of a latch for holding 'the door closed, a

spring for normally throwing the latch to locking position, means for releasing said latch, including a swinging lever on one side of said door, a push rod extending through the door and connected to said lever, devices for connecting the lever to the latch, whereby the movement of the lever in the direction for opening the door will release the latch, said connection between the pusher rod and the lever including a curved slot formed, in said lever, and a roller carried by said rod, said slot being so curved that the longitudinal pressure of the rod against the lever is in a direction substantially at right angles to a tangent to the curve of the slot at the point of contact of the roller with the curve.

4. In a fastener for doors, the combination of a shaft adapted to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the plane of the door, an arm, a latch pin carried by the arm, a stationary keeper having an inclined front surface adapted to engage the latch pin,a

spring normally tending to throw the arm of the shaft so as to hold the latch in engagement with the keeper, 'a lever for swinging said latch, so as to release the same from the keeper, and a rod extending through the door and having a sliding connection with the lever, whereby a longitudinal movement of the rod will oscillate the lever to release the latch.

5. In a fastener for doors, the combination of a shaft adapted to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the plane of the door, an arm, a latch roller carried by said arm, a stationary keeper having an inclined'front surface adapted to engage the latch pin, a spring normally tending to throw the arm of the shaft so as to hold the latch pin in engagement with the keeper, a lever for swinging said latch, so as to re-' lease the same from the keeper, a rod extending through the door and having a sliding connection with thelever, whereby a longitudinal movement of the rod will oscillate the lever to release the latch, said sliding connection between the lever and'rod including a curved slot formed in said lever anda roller carried by the rod and engagingsaid curved slot, saidcurved slot being so shaped that the longitudinal pressure of the rod against the lever is in a direction substantially at right angles to a tangent to the curve at the point of'contact of the roller with the curve.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto r signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this thirteenth day of July 1912.

SAMUEL PRICE STEVENSON. Vitnsses SAMUEL J. TAYLOR, E. L. FULLERTON. 

